Flight Departs for North Korea Despite Ebola Tour Ban

24 Oct 2014

(AFP) A commercial flight took off from Beijing for North Korea on Friday, despite travel agencies saying they had been told the isolated state would close its borders to foreign tourists over Ebola fears.

The Air China flight departed Beijing Capital International Airport Friday afternoon with 32 passengers on board, according to the airline’s duty manager.

The travel agencies — including two that are based in China — issued statements Thursday informing clients that the country was closing itself to tourists until further notice because of the threat of the disease.

The epidemic has killed nearly 4,900 people in West Africa, and some countries have banned travellers and flights from Ebola-hit countries.